Relationship dossier
Belgium
Kingdom of the Netherlands
Relationship assessment
Close Belgian-Dutch cooperation through Benelux and bilateral agreements
Belgium toward Kingdom of the Netherlands
+65Belgium cooperates with the Netherlands through the Benelux Union and bilateral arrangements, including agreements on the Scheldt estuary and cross-border coordination.
Kingdom of the Netherlands toward Belgium
+65The Netherlands cooperates with Belgium through the Benelux Union and bilateral arrangements, including agreements on the Scheldt estuary and cross-border coordination.
Overall relationship
+65The enduring relationship is structured by sustained Benelux cooperation and bilateral agreements on shared policy and cross-border issues. The two governments have also negotiated arrangements concerning the Scheldt estuary, reflecting the use of formal cooperation to address complex shared matters.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
Belgium and the Netherlands maintain close, sustained government cooperation through the Benelux Union and bilateral arrangements. Their cooperation includes cross-border policy coordination and agreements addressing the Scheldt estuary. These structures support a substantially cooperative relationship, while particular policy priorities and implementation can vary over time.
Key developments
Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg signed a revised Benelux Union treaty, establishing a framework for continued regional cooperation.
Belgium and the Netherlands concluded treaties concerning cooperation on the Scheldt estuary and navigation.
Major uncertainties
- The scope and implementation of current bilateral cooperation across individual policy areas are unclear.